Can-arranging device



Sept. 14, 1943. M, WEEKS .2,329,312

CAN ARRANGING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 14, 1943. A M. F. wEEKs w CAN ARRANGING DEVICE Filed vJan'. v11.4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept'.x14, `194117 v t :Huls Bros. Cofrealnc., san Franiseq, calif., aH fm @Imation 01 'Cdiffrnie f,

Application January y14, 1.942,1seria1fNo. 126,773

"ai single llne'lofffjcansf into two lines." v M .3f if 1';

' It is anobject of this 'invention tofprovidea f i 'l-.elfi- (Cigar-fia..-1..,- f

` This invention relatesto can splittingdevices, y,

rand more particularly to adevice adaptable -for f dividing or splitting 9 tofmake one-half revolutionl" jannuenc of aspring is, caii'sin'gftnev paddle' shaft and I8 which engage thewcan I2 'as will? hereinsimple, rugged and @dependable mechanism@ for i dividing or`splitting a single'line of 'moving 'or rolling cans into two lines.

Another Vobject; of this invention to pro'- l vide a ldevice applicable for use in dividing a single stream of moving ,objectsv into.two streams,

leach of which has ya proportion of ythe number of devices or objects of the original stream.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionof a preferred embodiment thereofy as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.` t

In the drawings: l Figure 1 isa top plan viewy of the can splitting device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a fragmental side elevation partly in vertical section and upona larger rscale of the can splitting device embodying my invention.

Figure 4 is an end view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3. f v

Figure 5 is a large detached elevation of the can splitter paddles embodying my invention;y

In. the preferred embodiment 'of'.myrvinvenytion asillustrated in kthe accompanying drawings, I indicates' a runway along which cans 'are substantially n rolled under a yielding snubber belt 2" located f over the runway. :The belt 2 engages thescans and causes the same to roll along the runway I.

Thebelt 2 is driven in any suitable manner as, for lexamplefrom a motor 3 through a drivey beltconnection indicated at .4 and 5 for driving a shaft uponvwhichy the belt pulley is secured. A'plurality of yieldably disposed belt'tighteners I are carried from theframe 8 to yieldably lurge the lower run of the belt 2 in position to engage the cans upon the runway I.

Carried lby' the frame '8 isa paddle shaft Sl upon which the idler roller I0 of the snubber'belt 2 is journaled. In the illustration 0f my invention herein set forth, the can dividing mechanism is operated upon the paddle shaft 9 and includes a trigger II which lis engaged by the leadingcan indicated at I2l (Figure 3). f As the ytrigger II is raised, itreleases the pawl I3 of the ratchet I4 secured to the paddle shaft 9. The

releaseof the pawl I 3' from the ratchetfM per mits the friction' clutchk I5 to engage under the i afterbe vvset rforth-td` divert the same: to the oppositelsides of the divideriplate -I9sof that they yf'ma'yfbe''delivered upon suitable conveye'r's 20and 2I to'forrn the dividedstream. The paddles I1 and I8 are of like construction and each includes an 'advanced long angled 'leg 22 and a short angled leg 23.r f

VThe paddles I'I and IS are mounted upon the shaft 9V (Figure 5) so that the long advancedl angled leg 22 oione paddle is advanced in the l direction of rotation ahead of the short leg-23` of the oppositeA paddle, The paddles are posif tioned at the opposite sides of the runway I in such manner kas to engagethe opposed ends of the can. In this manner when the long'advanced leg 22 engages one end. ofthe can,r it does 'so before engagement with the short leg 23. This y turns the canv on the divider plate I9 toward/one side thereof. As the paddle arrangementis al ternate in construction, that is, the advanced longfleg 22 of one of thepaddles I'I lies. on onel side of the vconveyer I, whilethe advancedy long leg'l22of the paddle I8 lies upon thek opposite side4 ofthe runwayV I, the effect yis thatwalternate cans engaging the trigger II willibe diverted t opposite'sides of the divider plate I 9.r

Thefaces of the leg22 are/angled in the, di-`4` rection *ofr diversionof the cans with respect to the line of travel of the cans on the conveyer I.

. As the longer leg 22 engages `one end ofthe can, it

speeds ahead that end'of the can as it'turnsr the can in the direction or the shorter paddle 23.

Having fully described my invention, itis tobe understood that I do not wish to be limited to the f details yherein set forth, .but my invention is 0I the full scope of the appended claims. n

I claim: y 1. In a device for dividing a stream ofarticles into two streams on a runway over which a stream' of cans is moved, a dividing means including a f pair of -edge paddles, means for :drivingthe edge paddles, means for normally ho1dingthe paddle,"y driving means inoperative,y means adapted to 'bef engaged by the cans on the runway to'release the r saidholding means to permit the edge paddles to be rotated through a portion of a revolution, the 1 edge paddles including an advancedyleg adapted X vto engage one end of a` can on said runway to speed that end of the can and toturn the can n' in the direction toward one side of rthe divider lili.` means.

l 2.V In a device for dividing a streamV oi articles into two streams, the combination of a runway,

means for propelling cans along the runway, a

can dividing means positioned over the runway,

,means for operating the can dividing means in timed relation with the movementl of thecans along the runway, andthe can dividing vmeans including a pairLof edge paddles each oiwhishr *includes Val long angled'fadvanced legand a: short angled leg, wherein the long advanced leg of the paddles andthe short leg of the other` paddles* cooperateV to divide the cans into two streams.f

2,329,312v `i q o v n their longitudinal axes parallel with, but transverse to, the said runway, a dividing means positioned over the; runway, means for driving the dividing means in timed relation with the movement of cansalon'g the runway, the can dividing meansincluding edge paddles adapted to engl ge the edges of the cans, on said runway to tion to their'direction of along the runwayy so as to alternately form two streams. s Y 5. In a device for dividing a stream of articles intoy two-streams, the combinationof a runway,

' 3. In a device for dividing a. stream of articles l' into two streams, of a dividing'meansdncluding a pair of edge paddle members, means for `driv` ing the edge paddle members, means for normally? holding` the paddle `driving means inoperatlvaij means adapted to be engaged by the articlesinw the stream to release the said holding means-to permit the edge paddles to be driven to; enga-ge the edge of the articles and to turn alternate of said articles in different directions to fformjwo streams.

4. rIn a device for dividinga stream of `arti-cles A;

into ,two streams,v the combination. of a runway along. which articles are rolled in a stream with nmeans forpropelling the cans along the runway, ,aeanlfdivid'ingxneans positioned over the runwaygmea-nsj'-vfdr 'driving the can dividing means, means for holding the driving means inopera-` tive-.;;trijggeifmeans located in the runway and adapted to be engaged by the cans to release the holding means* and the can dividing means, includingia `pair of edge` paddles eachof` which in- MAX WEEKS., 

